WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.540
Day 332 or November the 28th. God loves do-gooders.

00:00:07.459 --> 00:00:10.460
Our thoughts today come from Galatians chapter

00:00:10.460 --> 00:00:14.480
6 verse 10. Therefore, as we have opportunity,

00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:18.699
let us do good to all people, especially to those

00:00:18.699 --> 00:00:23.519
who belong to the family of believers. First,

00:00:23.640 --> 00:00:27.160
the big picture surrounding this verse. As Paul

00:00:27.160 --> 00:00:29.899
usually does when he writes to churches in need

00:00:29.899 --> 00:00:33.000
of some godly teaching and help, he spends a

00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:36.100
lot of time giving practical advice based on

00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:39.399
the sound teaching that begins his letters. His

00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:42.299
final chapters to the Galatians include that

00:00:42.299 --> 00:00:44.539
lovely description of the fruit of the Spirit

00:00:44.539 --> 00:00:48.179
in chapter 5, summing up what all believers can

00:00:48.179 --> 00:00:51.060
be when they are fully empowered by the Holy

00:00:51.060 --> 00:00:54.399
Spirit. Paul's practical advice is something

00:00:54.399 --> 00:00:59.840
we preachers should take note of and copy. And

00:00:59.840 --> 00:01:03.759
now today's action step. Isn't it odd how suspicion

00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:07.140
often falls on folk who do good things for no

00:01:07.140 --> 00:01:10.120
obvious personal benefit? It's as though good

00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:13.379
actions are inherently bad unless there's something

00:01:13.379 --> 00:01:16.439
in it for the person doing the good thing. I

00:01:16.439 --> 00:01:19.079
remember a radio interviewer challenging the

00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:22.659
derisory comments of a guest in the studio who

00:01:22.659 --> 00:01:26.239
accused someone of being a do-gooder by asking

00:01:26.239 --> 00:01:30.359
them, would you prefer he was a do -badder? It

00:01:30.359 --> 00:01:34.519
made me smile, but wince at the same time. Paul,

00:01:34.620 --> 00:01:37.700
writing to the Galatians, challenges them to

00:01:37.700 --> 00:01:40.659
do good for all people whenever they get the

00:01:40.659 --> 00:01:44.379
chance. It raises a question in my mind. We need

00:01:44.379 --> 00:01:48.260
to be aware of our motives for doing good. Why

00:01:48.260 --> 00:01:51.459
do we do things that help others without giving

00:01:51.459 --> 00:01:55.099
us a tangible benefit? Inside the church, for

00:01:55.099 --> 00:01:58.120
instance, be careful not to do good simply to

00:01:58.120 --> 00:02:01.640
increase your influence and enhance your status.

00:02:02.099 --> 00:02:05.640
Similarly, outside the church, beware of simply

00:02:05.640 --> 00:02:09.300
trying to be popular or impress. Ask yourself,

00:02:09.599 --> 00:02:13.479
why am I doing this? The correct answer is, because

00:02:13.479 --> 00:02:16.780
it needs to be done, and perhaps Jesus has put

00:02:16.780 --> 00:02:20.039
me in this situation to add a little salt and

00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:23.560
light. Other motives don't mean we should stop

00:02:23.560 --> 00:02:26.699
doing good, but it does mean we are at least

00:02:26.699 --> 00:02:29.139
to ask, who gets the glory?